Owl Observer News

We are so excited to kick off another incredible year of learning at Ducketts Lane! We hope that many of you will join us this afternoon for our New Student Orientation (Grades 1–5), our Pre-K & Kindergarten Information Session, and Open House. Details are included below.

A quick reminder: all students in Kindergarten through 5th grade begin school on Monday, and Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten students begin on Thursday. 🎉

As we get started, please also note that HCPSS Policy 8080: Responsible Use of Technology and Social Media remains in effect. This policy states that personal devices are not to be on or used during the school day. If you’d like to review the policy in full, you can click [here].

We truly believe this will be a year full of growth, joy, and achievement. With high expectations for our students—and a strong partnership with you—we know they will not only meet their goals but exceed them. Together, we share one common purpose: greatness for every single student.

Proudly Partnering with You,

Mrs. Caroland, Mrs. Van Osdel, Mrs. Poquette

Our students follow a color day schedule for related arts. This is especially important for Physical Education (PE) days, as students need to be dressed and ready for physical activity.

✅ What this means:

• Students should wear tennis shoes on PE days.

• Sandals, Crocs, flip flops, and other open-toed shoes are not safe and students will not be able to participate.

• Clothing should allow students to move comfortably—ready to run, skip, jump, and roll safely.

Until students become familiar with their color day schedule, it’s a good idea to dress ready to play every day. This ensures that every child can safely take part in PE from the very first day of school.

Did you know that without this being done, students are not allowed to attend a field trip? It's true, complete this task today!

Parents/guardians must verify and/or update emergency information for each child every school year. This is completed online in Family File, which has several new updates, including how and where to access. Full details on updating your Family File are available online.

Click Below to Update Now!

HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, which provide families with significant benefits to help save money. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from households that meet federal income guidelines are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.

Free and Reduced Meals eligibility provides discounts for summer programs, SAT, recreation programs, Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and internet programs. FARMs eligibility can also provide our school with much needed Federal funding.

Families must submit a new application every school year

How to Apply

Please submit only one application per household. We will host some events later in the month for families that need computer or language assistance to apply online. Be on the look out for more information.

Online Applications for the 2025-2026 School Year are available on the new LINQ Connect website. Just click on the button below.

Friday, August 22nd:

• For Parents & Students that attended other schools and will be new to Ducketts Lane and will be in Grades 1-5-join us for a New Student & Family Orientation at 12:45pm

Friday, August 22nd:

• For Parents & Students registered in Preschool, PreKindergarten, Kindergarten join for a meet the teacher and first day of school information session at 1:00-1:30pm

Friday, August 22nd:

• Preschool-Grades 5 Open House between 1:30-2:30pm
• This is an opportunity to drop in and meet your classroom teacher, find your desk, and say hello to a friend, and drop off your school supplies (they can be heavy and you don't want to have to bring them all in on the first day of school)

Monday, August 25th:

• First Day of School for Kindergarten - 5th Grade students

Thursday, August 28th:

• First Day of School for Preschool and PreKindergarten students

Monday, September 1st: Schools are CLOSED for ALL Students

Preorder a party pass for $5!

With the Preorder party pass you will receive 12 tickets that can be used to play games , Enter the cake Raffle, & buy snacks from our concession stand.

BRING A NEW BOX OF TISSUE TO DONATE AND GET 2 FREE RAFFLE TICKETS

Tickets will be available at the event, but you will not get the Preorder Party Pass discount.

Doors will open for students at 8:30 AM, and the late bell rings at 8:45 AM. All students should be in the building and ready for instruction by that time. Walkers, bike riders, and car riders should plan to arrive no later than 8:38 AM to ensure a smooth start. As a reminder, adults will not be permitted to walk students inside the building, and dogs are not allowed on school property during arrival or dismissal.

Please plan to be at the designated walker zones by 3:15 p.m., and your child will come directly to you. Talk with your child ahead of time about where in the zone you plan to wait so they know exactly where to look. If your child is a car rider, be sure to have your 2025–2026 school year car rider number clearly displayed, remain in the car line, and follow all traffic patterns. For safety reasons, staff will not buckle seat belts or car seats, so now is a great time to practice this skill with your child. Also, please remember that dogs are not permitted on school property, including during arrival and dismissal times.

As we prepare to welcome students back for an exciting new school year, we want to share an important reminder about arrival and dismissal procedures for the first day of school.

To maintain a safe and secure environment, we will be following our standard safety protocols:
➡️ All visitors must be signed in and scanned at the front office before entering the building.

This means that parents and guardians will not be able to walk students to their classrooms on the first day of school.

We know how special that first day can be — especially for our youngest students — and we want to reassure you that our staff will be present and ready to support your child from the moment they arrive. Starting the year with the same routine your child will follow each day helps build confidence and reduces anxiety. Having a different routine on the first day can actually make the separation more difficult.

So please, take those first-day photos, give the extra hugs at home, and send your child off with a big smile and lots of encouragement. We’ll take great care of them — rain or shine!

For families with walkers or car riders, please take a moment to review our arrival and dismissal procedures to help us maintain a smooth and safe process for everyone.

👉 Walker & Car Rider Arrival & Dismissal Proceduers

Additionally, if your child will be walking to and from school, we encourage you to practice the walking route together now. This helps both you and your child feel more confident and prepared for the first day and beyond.

Please note:
🚶‍♀️ Preschool through Kindergarten students will not be released to walk home without an adult present at the walker zone.

It is essential that arrangements are made to ensure our youngest learners are met by a trusted adult each day.

⏰ All staff leave the building at 3:30 p.m., and we are not equipped to provide child care after dismissal. We appreciate your support in ensuring all students are picked up promptly and safely.

Bus pickup/drop off times and bus stop locations will be available prior to the first day of school.

It is important that your child be at the bus stop 10 minutes prior to the posted bus arrival times and that for our preschool-kindergarten aged students that there is an adult there to greet them at the bus stop in the afternoon, as our youngest learners are not allowed to be left at a bus stop without a trusted adult there to get them home safely.

Everyone gets a little nervous on the first day of school—students, parents, teachers, and even the principal. It’s completely normal to feel a mix of emotions as we begin a new year.

To help ease the transition, every Ducketts Lane staff member will be wearing a school T-shirt like the one pictured here. Please take a moment to show this picture to your child(ren) and let them know:

👉 If they need extra help, directions, or reassurance, they can ask any grown-up wearing this shirt. Each one of us is here as a helper to guide them as they get comfortable navigating their new routines.

Together, we’ll make the first day a success—we all got this! 🌟

Don’t miss your chance to order your child’s grade level color shirt—orders cannot be placed later! The first 200 students to order will also receive a free special DLES surprise gift with their shirt. These shirts will be worn for field trips, spirit days, and field day, making them an important part of building school spirit and unity.

Order forms will be available at open house today!

We value your voice and partnership in supporting our students’ success. You are invited to join us for our Family–School Partnership Meetings this school year. At these meetings, we will:

• Discuss ways families and staff can work together to support student learning

• Gather your input and ideas to help shape future school activities and goals

• Explore ways for parents to get involved in the classroom

If you are interested in joining us for one or more meetings this year, please complete this form. All parents/guardians are encouraged to join virtually on Google Meet using the code: meet.google.com/uzc-wrrx-tgm. You can also scan this QR code to join the meeting.

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all students. Preventing bullying is an important part of this goal. HCPSS Policy 9460 states that bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation are prohibited in HCPSS. Our administration and staff have been trained and made aware of this policy as well as preventative and responsive measures.

We know how important your role is in not only supporting your children, but also reporting possible incidents as you become aware of them. The Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment and Intimidation (BCHI Reporting Form should be used to report all alleged incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation that occur at school or have a connection back to the school setting that create a risk of harm to other students while they are at school, or interfere with the educational environment. An online version is available and can easily and confidentially be used by students, staff, and family members. Hard copies of this form are available in the main office, staff workroom, school counseling office, media center, and health services office. If you believe your child has been bullied, please complete and submit this form as soon as possible and/or assist your child in doing so.

Once the form is submitted, school administrators will ensure the parent/guardian of both the alleged target and alleged offender are aware of the report and will begin an investigation within two school days of receiving the report. Parents/guardians can expect a school administrator to reach out to them during the investigation. Once the investigation is completed, parents/guardians will be provided written notice of the outcome of the investigation within fifteen days of receiving the compaint, excluding extenuating circumstances.

There are times when incidents of peer conflict or code of conduct offenses may occur that may not be bullying, but may need follow up action. If you become aware of something that falls under conflict and/or a code of conduct offense, please notify a school administrator via email or phone call so that they can become aware and follow up as needed.

Lastly, I want to take a moment to specifically lift up cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is bullying using electronic media like computers, cell phones, and game systems. Our digital interconnectedness makes bullying different and more damaging than it’s ever been before. It allows hatred and publicly humiliating gossip or photos to be instantly far-reaching and inescapable as electronic media is everywhere. It can NOT simply be ignored. In October 2013, the State of Maryland enacted Grace’s Law, making misuse of interactive computer services a criminal offense. Its purpose is to prohibit anyone from using electronic media (computers, tablets, phones, etc.) to maliciously engage in conduct that inflicts serious emotional distress on a minor and/or places that minor in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury. A person who is found guilty of violating this law is subject to imprisonment and/or fines.

While all of this information will be reviewed with students at school, we are asking you to do the same at home. Thank you for your partnership in ensuring all of our students feel a sense of safety and belonging in their school communities! More information can be found on the HCPSS Stop Bullying website. If you have any questions regarding this policy or its implementation, please contact a school administrator.

Registration for Girls on the Run® Fall 2025 Season opens on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at noon. Girls on the Run® inspires participants in grades 3-5 to be joyful, healthy, and confident by using running to teach valuable life skills. Volunteer coaches facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development, including managing emotions, fostering friendships, and expressing empathy. At the end of the season, the team completes a Community Impact Project and a 5K together, which provides a tangible sense of accomplishment and sets a confident mindset into motion. The DLES Team of 20 girls will meet Tuesdays and Thursday after school 3:15-4:30 pm beginning September 25 through December 9th with Coach Rinehart and Coach Auroux. The season-ending 5K for Howard County will be on Saturday, December 6 at 8:30 a.m. The program registration fee is $210, which includes lessons, all program materials, 5K and program shirts, a water bottle, and more. Click here to register. Financial assistance is available, and no girl is turned away! Visit www.gotrcentralmd.org for information and to register. Questions? Call 443-583-7740 or 443-864-8593.

We are looking for parent volunteer coaches. If you are interested in coaching or have any questions, then please email: karen_rinehart@hcpss.org

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) will host a Family Academy Kickoff on Saturday,Sept. 27th from 9 a.m.-noon at Oakland Mills High School, 9410 Kilimanjaro Road, Columbia. The districtwide event is open to all HCPSS families and will feature:

• An informative session with HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes
• Resource tables hosted by HCPSS offices and local organizations
• Information on programs, resources, and services available throughout the school year

Childcare and language access will be provided.

Registration is encouraged via online form listed below.

• Register in English
• Inscripción al evento 2025
• 家庭学校 2025 年开学典礼注册
• 2025 HCPSS 가족 아카데미 출범 행사 등록
• Event Flyers

For more information about the event or to get involved, contact Dr. Shereé Tilley-Whitaker at sheree_tilley-whitaker@hcpss.org or 410-313-6804.

https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2025/07/hcpss-kickoff-to-build-on-school-family-community-relationships-aug-16-2025/

This attachment is the Fall Newsletter provide by the Howard County Mental Health Communitt Action Council that shares multiple resources that you may find helpful.

We strive to be a school that actively partners with our students, staff, families, and surrounding community members. We welcome your feedback.

Please click on the Feedback Form to share your thoughts with how we can make DLES the best for everyone.

• Principal, Mrs. Caroland Molly_Caroland@hcpss.org

• Assistant Principal, Mrs. Van Osdel Amy_Van_Osdel@hcpss.org

• Leadership Intern, Mrs. Poquette Laurie_Poquette@hcpss.org

• Principal Secretary, Mrs. Canter Teresa_Canter@hcpss.org

• Registration Support, Secretary Ms. Lynette Carmen_Lynette@hcpss.org

• Attendance, Synergy and Family File Support, Secretary Mrs. Forman Julie_Forman@hcpss.org

• Counselor Mr. Leisawitz Alexander_Leisawitz@hcpss.org

• Counselor Mrs. Barron Krista_Barron@hcpss.org

• Community School Coordinator Mrs. De La Cruz- Van Natta ndelacruzvannatta@hcpss.org